Lately, the internet and its usage have been a hot topic, especially here in America with Net Neutrality being discussed in politics. One of the major topics about internet use has always been privacy. How much privacy do you need? Can you secure your privacy online? How private can you be? The best way to accomplish all tasks has been by using a VPN, a virtual private network.

I’m sure most of you have heard the term VPN many times before, especially those who work with computers a lot during the week. Many of you though may not know what it means or what it does. A bigger question though is that we know the benefits of using a VPN on your computer, but do they transfer over to your phone? In this article, we’ll check out what a VPN is, does, and how it can affect mobile usage.

Simply put, a VPN, or a virtual private network, is a service that encrypts data sent and received between you and any destination on the internet. By encrypting the data traffic, entities such as your ISP or government won’t be able to see what you’re doing online. Hidden network activity can have numerous benefits besides just not allowing everyone to track you. VPN servers are also hosted in many different parts of the world, which can affect your online experience as well.

More reasons to use a VPN

Using a VPN isn’t only for those worried about who may be watching their online activity. Individual businesses use VPNs to make sure that only its employees are viewing its content. People who frequently download may use a VPN not to be tracked or put on a watchlist. Someone may use one so that they can watch live TV not provided by their locations internet provisions.

There’s been a long time saying that a person wouldn’t need to use a VPN on their mobile device. That’s just not true. A VPN will not only protect your mobile internet usage but also protects the data from your apps. All the incoming and outgoing data from app usage has to go through the VPN as well, so it contains all the benefits.

Speaking of, there are definite pros and cons of using a VPN service. One of the main benefits of using the service, and the one we’re going to focus on, is security. When using a service, your data is scrambled and hidden. It’s hidden from most sources that try to get your data and even the ones that can find it can’t decipher what you’re doing. This protects you from most anybody you’d be worried about.

Also, a VPN can help you access information that otherwise would usually be blocked. Whether this means using materials for your job or going to a website hosted in a different country, you have the chance with a VPN. So now you can watch Netflix, even if you’re not supposed to.

Unfortunately, where there are pros, there are cons. The most commonly experienced con is internet speeds slower than usual. This happens due to the service having to hide and scramble your data. There are a few other cons when using a service, but connection speed is the one to be most aware.

The titular question of this article is should you use a VPN service with your phone. The answer is simple, why not? If you’re already using one on your computer or interested in being more secure with your practices, why not use one. Most of the more reputable companies that have virtual network services also have easy to use apps for your mobile devices. Some companies even offer extras like bandwidth monitoring if you have a metered data plan.

There are many companies out there, but we strongly encourage you to do research and find popular and well-used ones. Security is ultimately better than cost and ease of use. 3 of the companies that I’ve personally used and researched are IPVanish, TunnelBear, and the one I use currently, NordVPN. Ultimately, do copious amounts of research before sticking with a service.

So, conclusively, a VPN is a service that handles all of your data traffic. It takes the incoming and outgoing information from your device and hides and encrypts it. Whether you want to be more secure or access information that is otherwise forbidden, a VPN can be a huge benefit. Not only does this apply to your computer but also your mobile devices.